Shock Wave Detection

Development of a Probe to Detect Blast Wave Direction and Strength

The problem of muzzle blast in Army crew areas is of critical importance. Multiple reflections of blast waves over solid surfaces can cause substantial over pressure behind, which can be harmful to the crew. In order to be able to address this problem, better understanding of the phenomenon of blast wave reflections is needed. Better understanding, however, requires more accurate measurement of pressure behind blast waves, which may have been reflected by irregular surfaces. The task of this study is to develop and test a probe which can measure accurately the pressure behind blast waves as well as their direction as they past over the measurement location.